Did I "F" up ?

[lt1 kenobi]

Ok so I was reading through some stuff and saw you are not supposed to install a balancer w/a hammer... well I didn't I used a brass mallet and wood... this was a few weeks ago and the motor is in the car and running fine... but now I'm scared shitless. Way to make sure I'm ok?

 

[bowtie81]

Oh hell i always put them on that way for the longest time, it's not the proper way but a couple times isn't gonna hurt.

 

[lt1 kenobi]

I didn't think it would just wanted to make sure... I've seen people do it.. and this is the first motor I put together myself and so I did it... whoops.... I guess if it was gonna fly apart it would've done it by now.

 

[lilbowtie]

Double check your end play - it's really not what you want to do to that bearing cap!!

 

[HP JUNKEY]

Like lilbowtie said, Check your end play in the crank. Cranks have a "thrust bearing" at the rear section of the crank, when a crank is put in place you have to "snug" all the main caps and "push, pry, or wack" the crank towards the front of the block. Torque all the main cap bolts and check your Crank end play. By installing the Balancer with a "pound it on" method you will push the crank to the "back' of the block making the thrust bearing touch the rear of the block journal surface, causing excessive wear and possibly misaligning the main caps. It does sound a little scary but the old timers used to pound on balancers all the time. Here is some reading about thrust bearings and their role in a crank. I think it will be O.K.
http://www.4secondsflat.com/Thrust_bearing_failures.html

 

[Brian79]

Ok so the "pounding it on" method is wrong. What is the correct way on installing it?

 

[gman415]

http://www.bizrate.com/automotive-repair-tools/harmonic-balancer/
Very handy.

 

[HP JUNKEY]

OR this one,,Sears Stores are everywhere,,,
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/ProductDisplay?partNumber=00960602000P&storeId=10153&sName=Auto+Specialty+Tools&psid=SHOPZILLA01&vName=Tools&cName=Auto&catalogId=12605&sid=IDx20070921x00003c

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Not only does banging it on possibly damage the thrust bearing, it dislodges the elastomeric ring on the hub. If you hit the outside ring it can also throw the dameper out of true. Either one can cause the outside ring to separate from the hub on the damper. If you're lucky it'll only spin & throw your timing marks off. If you're unlucky it comes off or explodes!!

Tommy

 

[Damon]

While it's certainly not the preferred method there are a lot of motors out there running around just fine with "beaten on" balancers. Including a few of mine back in the old days.

It's definitely not "guaranteed engine death" or anything that extreme. I probably built my first 5 or 6 engines before I even knew there WAS a proper tool for installing them!

Just that next time, please go get or rent a proper install tool. Not only is it the right way to do it, it's also SO much easier with the right tool you'll kick yourself for not getting one sooner. Save the BFH for making floorpan clearance for header collectors!